Jaxson Dart’s left knee surgery went so well Friday that head coach John Harbaugh thought the Giants franchise quarterback took to social media to tease a possible return by the playoffs.
Informed that as of that moment Wednesday afternoon Dart had not shared any sort of public update, Harbaugh quipped, “Maybe he just texted me that. That’s news now, right?”
The bigger news (for now) is that the doctors did not uncover anything more than the expected damage to his meniscus, PCL and MCL.
“I think it went well. Have you ever heard the doctor tell you it didn’t go well?” Harbaugh said. “I think it was as expected. I think they saw what they thought they were going to see and just fixed it. The timeline doesn’t really change too much.”
The recovery is expected to take four to six months. The playoffs start in less than four months.
“Maybe that’s a little ambitious,” Harbaugh admitted.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that he played matchmaker for his brother, John, and his former Michigan quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, before Monday’s trade.
“John called me and asked me,” Jim said in Los Angeles. “I said, ‘John, I love you. I love J.J.’ ”
Now that John Harbaugh has had McCarthy in the Giants building for two days, what does he see?
“Who knows where it goes or where it doesn’t go?” Harbaugh said. “He had a really good practice. Seems like he picked things up we asked him to pick up really well. Was in here late, early. Studying, learning. Has a really good football foundation, all that kind of stuff. And that’s exciting.”
LT Andrew Thomas (groin), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (knee) and LB Malik Harrison (groin) did not practice Wednesday. CB Doente Banks (calf) and Tyler Nubin (calf) were limited after missing the most recent game (past two for Banks).
Thomas played last game after a midweek rest day and this could be the same situation.
“I think he should be fine,” Harbaugh said.
Tracy’s injury is not considered “serious,” Harbaugh said.
OLB Jihad Ward, who had eight sacks in 34 games for the Giants in 2022-23, is returning after being signed off the Vikings practice squad.
Ward seemed to be campaigning on social media to return to the Giants before the season began. … DT Josh Tupuo was released.
